[Yang Nak-gyu's Defense video] Early Warning Aircraft Additional Procurement Winner... USA VS Europe

[Asia Economy Reporter Yang Nak-gyu] The pace of foreign defense industry companies aiming to participate in the Air Force's next-generation Airborne Early Warning and Control (E-X) additional procurement project is gradually accelerating. The project to procure two additional early warning and control aircraft is reportedly in the final stages of a feasibility study for budget allocation, targeting project commencement in 2021. The military's plan to procure additional early warning and control aircraft was reflected in the 2016 long-term demand plan (project implementation after five years) due to increased missions following the expansion of the Korean Air Defense Identification Zone (KADIZ) and the growing importance of intelligence-gathering missions amid North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities enhancement.

According to the military on the 25th, they are currently considering whether to procure additional units of the same model in the additional procurement project or select a model through competitive bidding. The likelihood of competitive bidding is high. It is expected that Boeing from the United States and Israel's IAI will enter the competition, and their movements are anticipated to become visible soon.

The U.S. Boeing B-737 model, procured by our Air Force in the first phase, totals four units. The price was $1.59 billion. Boeing initially demanded up to $1.9 billion during early negotiations, but after give-and-take negotiations, a final agreement was reached at approximately $1.59 billion.

The B-737 is equipped with an Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) system and Northrop Grumman's 'MESA' (Multi-Function Electronically Scanned Array) radar, enabling 360-degree all-around simultaneous tracking of air and sea targets. It continuously scans the operational area, providing critical information about enemies to friendly fighters and naval vessels and commanding them. It can carry two pilots and 6 to 10 mission crew members, with a maximum speed of Mach 0.78, a maximum operating altitude of 12,400 meters, and a range of 6,482 kilometers.

Swedish defense company Saab, which has thrown its hat in the ring again this time, is expected to offer the 'Global Eye,' equipped with high-performance radars capable of simultaneously monitoring air, ground, and sea. Saab's 'Global Eye' will be equipped with two main radars: the 'Erieye ER radar,' which extends detection range for small and expected targets, and the 'Seaspray radar,' which can detect maritime targets beyond the horizon.

In 2018, Saab held a business briefing and hinted to the Ministry of National Defense press corps that if the Navy procures the maritime patrol aircraft 'Swordfish' under development, it could provide AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar technology, a core technology of the Korean Fighter eXperimental (KF-X), as a counterbalance. Saab possesses AESA radar technology developed independently. Saab explains that the Swordfish is also equipped with a multi-mode AESA radar capable of 360-degree detection.

A Saab official explained, "The maritime surveillance radar can precisely detect not only air but also ground, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and small drifting wooden boats at sea."